Before him were Singers cum Actors like Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, PU.Chinnappa and others were from the Classical Mould, not that they were professionally well-informed in Carnatic Music, but they followed the Classical pattern as advised by the Music Directors.

It was TMS, who brought the light music touch to Classical music.

Even the tough ragas were rendered in an effortless and easy manner that reached the common man’s ears easily, as in ,

Maharajan Ulagai Aalallaam,(Karnan)

Madhavi Ponmayilaal Thohai Viriththaaal-(Iru Malarkal)

Hs mimic of Thyagaraja Bhagavathat is so perfect, one is confused whether it was Bhagavatahar or TMS.

Born in a Saurashtra community in Madurai in 1923, Thoguluva Meenakshi Iyengar Soundararajan languished in poverty and could not afford a formal training in classical music. He left Madurai in search of a career and joined the Royal Talkies in Coimbatore for a monthly salary of Rs. 50. Only in 1950 did opportunity knock at his door. He rendered his first song in the film Krishna Vijayam. The song was ‘Radhey nee yennai vittu pogathadi’ and the music director, S.V. Subbaiah Naidu. TMS’ devotional songs — ‘Karpagavalli nin porpagangal pidithen’ on Karpagambal, the deity of Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore, ‘Mannaanaalum Tiruchenduril mannaven’ and ‘Ullam uruguthayya’ on Lord Muruga — remain popular even today.